Impact of Volcanic Activity on AMC Channel Operations

Abstract

The basic foundation of airpower promotes unique capabilities and inherent advantages to achieve strategic, operational, and tactical objectives for the nation. Air mobility and its associated core competencies are seated appropriately under this airpower umbrella. Exploiting its inherent speed and tremendous range allows air mobility to become rapid global mobility. The core competency of rapid global mobility, the lifeblood of sustained combat operations, presents itself as one of the greatest military advantages in the world. Understanding the importance of rapid global mobility to the United States? National Security Strategy (NSS), and subsequent National Military Strategy (NMS), is paramount when analyzing the impact of its interruption. The eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull on April 14, 2010 significantly affected Air Mobility Command's (AMC) ability to execute rapid global mobility, and more specifically, its sustained channel network. The ash impediment created by the eruption perpetuated system disruptions that threatened the Air Force's ability to sustain combat operations abroad.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 13, 2014
Accession Number
ADA602884

Entities

People

  • Matthew D. Meshanko

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Case Studies
  • Combat Operations
  • Commercial Aircraft
  • Education
  • Gas Turbines
  • Jet Engines
  • Military Aircraft
  • Military Operations
  • Military Strategy
  • National Security
  • Second World War
  • Security
  • United States
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Seismology